Calling top military leaders to Quantico for a political speech was a "waste of time," former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Wednesday at Axios' Future of Defense Summit.

Why it matters: President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would have been better served using that gathering of top generals and admirals to prepare for 21st Century threats, Panetta said. • Instead, Panetta told Axios' Colin Demarest that military leaders were treated to a "recruiting speech" and complaints about "cultural issues." • "Hell no," Panetta responded when asked if he would have called that meeting.

Zoom out: Panetta served as the 23rd defense secretary from July 2011 to February 2013 under former President Obama. • He previously served as the director of the Central Intelligence Agenc

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